Elsinore HS Looking To Make Waves During Annual Solar Cup Race

Students from will head to Lake Skinner this weekend to show off their ingenuity and creativity.

Elsinore will be among 40 Southern California high schools competing during the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's ninth annual Solar Cup Competition.

The contest, which gets underway Saturday morning and continues through Sunday, requires competitors to power their specially designed watercraft using nothing but solar energy.

The racing rigs come in all shapes and sizes. Students have spent the last seven months readying their boats, composing technical reports and putting together a water-conservation presentation -- all of which will be judged and awarded points in the competition.

Elsinore High School is hoping to recapture some of its 2010 glory. Last year the school took home the Bart Bezyack Memorial Spirit of Solar Cup Trophy for outstanding spirit and sportsmanship.

But it will be a tough field on the lake this weekend. Teams from schools in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties are participating in this year's event, according to MWD officials.

Riverside County schools entered in the competition are:

   -- Elsinore High School, Wildomar;
   -- Centennial High School, Corona;
   -- West Valley High School, Hemet;
   -- Murrieta Mesa High School, Murrieta;
   -- Nuview Bridge Early College High School, Nuevo;
   -- Arlington High School, Riverside;
   -- San Jacinto High School, San Jacinto;
   -- Great Oak High School, Temecula;
   -- Chaparral High School, Temecula.
 
"The Solar Cup program is truly a story of hard work, determination, teamwork and intellect,'' said Solar Cup coordinator Julie Miller. "What also is inspiring is the camaraderie. Even though high school teams are competing against one another, they will also pitch in to help each other.''

To ensure the event gets off to a good start, MWD officials will be inspecting contestants' boats to ensure maneuverability and safety during practice runs throughout the day Friday.

On Saturday, the single-person skiffs will hit the water, deploying solar-collection panels to motor through a 1-mile endurance race.

On Sunday, 200-meter sprint races are planned, with the boaters relying on batteries charged by absorbed sunlight to power their rigs, according to the MWD.

This year's defending champion is Canyon High School of Anaheim.

An awards ceremony is scheduled after the last races Sunday, during which trophies in the "veteran'' and "newcomer'' divisions will be handed out, as well as awards for teamwork, sportsmanship and the "hottest-looking boat,'' according to the MWD.

Since 2002, 7,500 students have taken part in the solar boat races, according to the water agency.

The races are visible from the shore, and the event is open to the public from 8 a.m. to  4 p.m. with free admission and parking. Lake Skinner is located at 37701 Warren Road, Winchester. -- City News Service contributed to this report.